Russia is traditionally a country in which the issue of carrying and storing weapons is quite acute. This is due to the difficult economic situation and often the desire of the authorities to control the situation in the country as much as possible. Therefore, people often wonder whether it is possible to carry an air gun without permission.
Simple and complicated
Regarding pneumatic weapons, the situation is even more interesting than among other types of weapons. And the problem of whether you can carry a pneumatic gun with you is not as simple as it seems at first glance.
The fact is that many people often perceive airguns as something single - half toy, half real. In fact, looking like pneumatic pistols can belong to completely different categories, and the consequences of wearing them can vary greatly. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly understand which pneumatic gun is a weapon and which is not. It does not hurt to also understand the licensing rules of a particular type of pneumatic weapon in order to know exactly all the legal aspects and whether it is possible to carry a specific model of pneumatic gun.
Muzzle energy as the main indicator
In order to understand whether it is possible to carry an air gun, you need to know which category of air gun it belongs to. And for this there is no need to dive deep into the technical details. You only need to know one single digit - the muzzle energy of a specific sample. It is this parameter that determines whether it is possible to carry a pneumatic gun without permission, or whether it must be officially registered and received documents.
The Weapons Act identifies four main categories of airguns.
Can I carry an air gun up to 3 J?
Pistols with muzzle energy of up to three joules are not classified as weapons by the law, in fact treating them as a toy. And the answer to the question of whether it is possible to carry a pneumatic gun with a bullet where the energy does not exceed 3 J will always be positive. Of course, unless in a particular case a special decree prescribes otherwise, as it was, for example, during the football championship. However, one should never forget that the demonstrative open wearing of such a pistol can attract the attention of law enforcement officials. In addition, threats to other people, even with the use of such “toy” weapons, also entail a quite tangible responsibility. Therefore, the "pneuma" of this category, being a toy from the point of view of the law, should always remain a weapon in the eyes of its owner. Accordingly, it is necessary to constantly remember the responsibility imposed on the owner.
Already a weapon, but not to the end
The most popular category of pneumatics. This category includes airguns with an energy of up to 7.5 J. In this case, another limitation appears - the maximum caliber is 4.5 mm.
However, the vast majority of pneumatics samples offered in stores just refer to the caliber of 4.5 mm, so there will be no difficulties with this parameter. In addition, manufacturers are adjusting their products to the requirements of the Law on Arms in order to increase sales. So, in the description of many air rifles you can find the wording that a weakened spring is installed.That is, the manufacturer customizes the weapons, designed to withstand stronger loads, to the requirements of federal law. But at the same time, there remains the technical possibility of upgrading the model by installing a more powerful spring, which, accordingly, transfers the weapon to another category.
Reasons for popularity
The great popularity of pneumatics up to 7.5 J is due to the fact that, although it is a weapon, the restrictions on its purchase and storage are minimal. In fact, the only restriction is coming of age. Weapons of this class are not licensed, you just need to present a passport when buying.
The law does not provide special regulations on where to store weapons, that is, formally there is no need for a safe. However, when storing weapons of this category it is necessary to take reasonable precautions, since it is quite capable, for example, to knock out an eye. Accordingly, such instances are best kept unassembled or semi-disassembled and better discharged.
But if there are no restrictions on the storage of this weapon, then there are already restrictions on the wearing. And the question of whether it is possible to carry a pneumatic gun with you already has a slightly different answer than in the case of pneumatics up to 3 J. The law spells out two main restrictions. It is forbidden to carry airguns in both working and disassembled forms at venues for public events. And also it is impossible to carry similar products in settlements in curb form. That is, when transporting these weapons around the city, you must remove the store or gas canister.
Big frontier
Pneumatics, whose power exceeds 7.5 J, can already be called a full-fledged weapon. It is subject to licensing, which immediately narrows the circle of its potential buyers. For example, according to the law on weapons, such products are eligible to purchase athletes of bullet sports for training.
To purchase, they need to get a document that confirms this, and then on the basis of it already get the license to purchase. Of course, getting the coveted license for such weapons is much easier than for a full-fledged firearm, nevertheless this is an official action with all the ensuing consequences. To obtain a license you will need a medical certificate of physical and mental fitness for possession of weapons. And for those first time acquiring such copies, it is also necessary to undergo training in order to learn how to handle them safely. And the possibility of obtaining a license appears only after passing the exam on the assimilation of the rules for handling weapons. Also, to store models with an energy index of more than 7.5 J, a full safe is required.
Pneumatic monsters
The last category of airguns is made up of models with an energy index of more than 25 J. In the law "On Weapons" they are not separately allocated and require the same actions when obtaining a license. The only difference is that the law does not provide for airguns used for hunting and having an energy of more than 25 J. That is, only sportsmen of bullet sports can get pneumatics of this category if they have the necessary documents and recommendations, and the hunters are not supposed to shoot from it. Although this does not negate the fact that many air rifles by the manufacturer initially laid the possibility of alteration to increase power.
The situation in other CIS countries
Many connoisseurs of pneumatics are interested in whether it is possible to carry an air gun freely in neighboring countries. Despite the fact that the arms legislation in the post-Soviet space is quite similar to that in different countries, as it is based on a single Soviet model, it gradually evolves and begins to differ from the Russian one. We found out whether it is possible to carry an air gun in Russia. And what about our neighbors? Let us pay attention to the two countries most closely cooperating with Russia - Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Belarus
Can I carry a pneumatic gun with me in Belarus? In the Republic of Belarus, as well as in the Russian Federation, samples up to 3 J considered as toys are not considered weapons. Samples with caliber up to 4.5 mm and bullet energies up to 7.5 J are weapons, but are not subject to licensing. In general, the situation with pneumatic weapons in Belarus is identical to the Russian one. With one exception. Pneumatics more powerful than 25 J is completely prohibited. Whereas in Russia it is allowed for athletes and prohibited for hunters. But such pneumatics is an insignificant part of the general market for airguns. As a rule, people are interested in more accessible patterns. It should also be noted that in Belarus it is supposed to keep even pneumatic weapons in the safe, which have energy from 3 to 7.5 J. That is, the standard “air” weakened to 7.5 J does not require a license, but you must have a safe.
Kazakhstan
Can I carry a pneumatic gun with me in Kazakhstan? If you do not delve into the minor nuances, then Kazakhstani legislation is identical to Russian. The same 4 groups based on power. The rules for wearing and storage are the same. Up to 3 J free storage, from above a safe is already required. The differences lie only in separate formulations.
Insidious caliber
So, we found out that the general requirements for pneumatic weapons in Russia and its closest neighbors are very similar. One more small nuance remained - the 4.5 mm caliber constantly appearing in the law.
At first glance, there is no reason for such attention to caliber. In fact, the legislators had objective reasons for this ban. The next widespread airgun caliber in the world is 5.5 mm. And it is well suited for remaking airguns under firearms. Suffice it to recall that the AK-74 caliber is 5.45 mm. In addition, there are construction cartridges based on 5.45 mm shells. And the purchase of building cartridges does not require special documents. For this reason, pneumatics over 4.5 mm are prohibited for circulation, because there have always been many craftsmen with golden hands in Russia.
Can I carry a pneumatic gun with me, the basic rules
In conclusion, we are trying to deduce the main rules for people who already own or are interested in pneumatic weapons.
The first and most important rule - you need to know exactly the characteristics of your weapon, its compliance with the law. To do this, it is very advisable to buy pneumatics only in specialized stores, and not with hands. Here is a small digression. Anyone can sell pneumatic weapons up to 3 J - this is a toy from the point of view of the law. But copies from 3 to 7.5 J (do not forget about the caliber of 4.5 mm) inclusive (and this is the main part of the turnover) can only be sold by specialized arms stores. That is, as an adult, you can purchase them without presenting additional documents. But if you later want to sell the toy, then you should know that this is illegal.
Individuals can not sell pneumatics up to 7.5 J, they can only try to turn it over to the store. In this case, it makes no sense to discuss whether this state of things is true or not, but this is a fact that must be taken into account. Therefore, buying pneumatics up to 7.5 J from hand, you become a member of an illegal transaction. And there are no guarantees that the product will be certified by the seller. So, you can buy pneumatics over 7.5 J under the guise of a weaker one, but this can be fraught with serious problems with the law.
The second rule - even the most harmless pneumatics must be stored in places not accessible to children and strangers. And better disassembled. Even the weakest air gun is capable of knocking out an eye. You should never forget about it.
The third rule - when transporting pneumatics, you should not draw attention to it, and even more so direct it to people. Even if the weapon is unloaded and complies with the standard of up to 7.5 J, nothing prevents the police from seizing it for examination, and detaining the owner for hooliganism, for example.A weapon is always a responsibility, and you should not forget about it.
